Posted on 01/18/2007 11:52:19 AM PST by Sub-Driver
U.S. lawmakers seek to bar U.S. attack on Iran
By Richard Cowan 26 minutes ago
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday pushed legislation to prohibit a U.S. attack on Iran without Congress' permission.
The effort, led by Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record), a North Carolina Republican who in 2005 joined calls from many Democrats for a phased U.S. withdrawal from the Iraq war, came as lawmakers voiced concerns that the Bush administration might provoke a confrontation with neighboring Iran.
"The resolution makes crystal clear that no previous resolution passed by Congress" authorizes a U.S. attack on Iran, Jones told reporters, referring to the 2002 vote by Congress authorizing the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The joint resolution, which would have the force of law if passed by the House and Senate and signed by President George W. Bush, would waive the congressional authorization only if Iran attacked the United States or its armed forces, or if such an attack was "demonstrably" imminent.
So far, Jones' resolution has 11 co-sponsors in the 435-member House.
Rep. Martin Meehan, a Massachusetts Democrat, said he did not trust Iran or its intentions in the Middle East. But he said the resolution on Iran was needed because the Bush administration had "lied so many times" in the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Backers of the legislation said they hoped Democratic leaders in the House would advance their resolution in coming months, possibly as part of Iraq war funding legislation or other Iraq-related measures.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Isn't already law that only congress can declare war?
Members of the congress have never read anything out of the Constitution in their lives and they have the dumbest lawyers on earth because the good ones know they make more money in private practice so it's no wonder why they come off looking impotent on every issue.
Iran says on a daily basis that they will develop nuclear weapons and wipe out America and Israel. Imagonnajihad just came from the South American conference entitled "The world without America". I guess they want us to wait until a US city is a smoking ruin before reacting. 'Course that is their view on individual self defense.
Liberals wouldn't do anything if the Iranians were attacking us except run and hide in their private bunkers.
Nuts. This just liberal show to play to their base. They cannot stop the President from exercising his powers. If the President decides to attack Iran, we will attack Iran.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!
Let's just surrender to the Muslims!
NOT!!!!!!!
Well, they better hurry up! ;)
Do you think Congress would have given specific permission to wage war on Iran on 9/12/2001? I don't.
I was being somewhat facetious with my 'winging it' comment. I wasn't sure as to the time durations covered.
As to your other comments, I can't respond in detail now. But in short, all reference info I have is contradictory.
No offense, gotta run.
The only way I know thay anyone, including Congress, can change that is through a Constitutional Amendment.
Trouble is, "most legal scholars", real or imagined, do not have the power to make that determination.
If Ronald Reagan did the Operation El Dorado Canyon, yes George W. Bush can also order the USAF B-2's to demolish Iran's nuke sites, if he thinks it is necessary. The President of the United States has the power to wage war. The Congress has the only power to declare war, but what can be delcared if W already start another war front? It's the he War Powers Resolution Section 2 and Join Resolution passed on Sept. 14, 2001.
The ultimate power here is the power of the purse. While a President might be able to argue that he or she has a constitutional right to undertake military action without congressional approval under certain circumstances, it's absolutely clear under the constitution that have no ability to appropriate money to pay for it.
"The ultimate power here is the power of the purse."
I'll gladly chip in for the jet fuel......We already have the bombs.
Fine. Bring it on. Imminentize the eschaton.
Does this mean that they could nuke Jerusalem and the waiver would not kick in? Is there really no language in there covering allies?
War against whom?
They also have no hearts and they have no souls. They don't care about the things they vote on. It's all facade. Empty suits is right.
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